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Committee narrows farmers-market language, asks DPR to draft safeguards
Summary
Council committee debated amendments to allow farmers markets in parks as a permitted use under DPR administrative rules with conditions (nonprofit operation, not in highly utilized parks, sanitary/traffic controls). The chair amended Bill 30 to CD1 and postponed it for incorporation of DPR edits and further review.
The committee spent substantial time on Bill 30, which would amend park-use rules to allow farmers markets in city parks but attach limits to protect regular park users.
Deputy Director Kehaopu'u and DPR Director Laura Thelen told the committee that DPR supports enabling farmers markets but recommended that markets be added into the park permitting section with explicit references to DPR administrative rules — for example to require insurance, off-duty police for traffic control, and portable toilets where needed. Thelen said those administrative rules would enable the department to require event-specific conditions and avoid leaving markets unregulated.
Council member Kehaina urged the committee to narrow farmers-market allowances to “just fresh food” and to preserve DPR discretion to deny permits where parks are unsuitable. “We don't want them on the properties where the people's open markets are located because then it's directly competing with those markets,” Thelen said. Council member Weier flagged outreach to community organizations evaluating park locations.
The chair proposed amending Bill 30 to a hand-carried CD1 reflecting DPR's edits and postponed the bill to a later committee date so DPR and council members can refine language and address concerns about park use, nonprofit operation, and competition with existing markets.
Ending: Bill 30 was amended to CD1 and postponed to a date and time to be determined by the committee chair for further edits and neighborhood consultation.
